what is better for iron shots? swing speed? or tempo and flow?

[ARodgers TD]

opinions, hints, suggestions, i wanna know what people think!

[phillyk]

I definitely have to go with tempo and flow.  If you have those, you're more likely to hit the ball clean and solid, so distance will come regardless.

[pound puppy]

I agree with phillyk.  You can control a nice smooth flowing swing much better and much more consistently.  For most people, increasing swing speed means just swinging harder, and that makes things hard to repeat, which is the key.

[senorchipotle]

definitely rhythm... i don't particularly like using the word tempo because it is indicative of speed. if you have the same tempo that means you're swinging each club a constant speed, but rhythm means you keep the same pattern, but can speed it up and slow it down and remain in sequence. a bit nitpicky, but i like to keep the distinction.

i'm not sure what you mean by "flow."

[ARodgers TD]

any hints on how i can maintain a smooth swing on the course? my driver swing speed is about 105 but i really go after it, i just cant get it thru my head, i just think that if i try to be too smooth i wont be able to hit it as far...im a wreck

[phillyk]

Originally Posted by ARodgers TD

any hints on how i can maintain a smooth swing on the course? my driver swing speed is about 105 but i really go after it, i just cant get it thru my head, i just think that if i try to be too smooth i wont be able to hit it as far...im a wreck

I know what you mean.  I had that problem too.  Actually, I still have it sometimes.  I can't try and swing "soft," because everyone says I swing too hard, but when I try to not do it, everything goes out of wack.  Tempo is definitely important, and I try to think of a pendulum when I think tempo.  It can be fast or hard, but in synch!  It definitely takes a lot of practice though to be able to swing hard but consistently how you want to.

[GaijinGolfer]

Temp and flow.  Especially when it comes to iron shots, power is nothing without control.

[ARodgers TD]

Originally Posted by phillyk

I know what you mean.  I had that problem too.  Actually, I still have it sometimes.  I can't try and swing "soft," because everyone says I swing too hard, but when I try to not do it, everything goes out of wack.  Tempo is definitely important, and I try to think of a pendulum when I think tempo.  It can be fast or hard, but in synch!  It definitely takes a lot of practice though to be able to swing hard but consistently how you want to.

im thinking that if i keep a better tempo similar to a "pendulum" il be able to get more of my body into it and distance will come that way, i gotta get to the range and just compare distances swinging all out, and swinging smooth

[Blades4me]

Swing speed is a function of rhythm & tempo. So rhythm & tempo are FAR more important that swing speed.

[golf4fun12]

tempo and flow create that club head speed. same thing for baseball. bottom half goes first and the top half follows. and that creates bat speed. tempo and flow for sure.

[Zeph]

Why choose? I'll take them all.

[mattshaver]

Originally Posted by phillyk

I know what you mean.  I had that problem too.  Actually, I still have it sometimes.  I can't try and swing "soft," because everyone says I swing too hard, but when I try to not do it, everything goes out of wack.  Tempo is definitely important, and I try to think of a pendulum when I think tempo.  It can be fast or hard, but in synch!  It definitely takes a lot of practice though to be able to swing hard but consistently how you want to.

what works for me is just trying to relax every muscle in my body before takeaway.  i used to try and swing "soft" but tension in your hands and forearms will kill that idea.

[Tomboys]

Neither clubhead speed nor tempo and flow are going to matter much if you don't consistently make contact in the center of the clubface (or at least as close to it as possible) where the divot is in front of the ball.  At the end of the day, what good is it to be able to swing say a 5i 100 mph with a beautiful fluid motion if you hit the ground 3" inches behind the ball?  With that, I say technique is "best" even though it's not one of the choices listed.

[Zeph]

Originally Posted by Tomboys

Neither clubhead speed nor tempo and flow are going to matter much if you don't consistently make contact in the center of the clubface (or at least as close to it as possible) where the divot is in front of the ball.  At the end of the day, what good is it to be able to swing say a 5i 100 mph with a beautiful fluid motion if you hit the ground 3" inches behind the ball?  With that, I say technique is "best" even though it's not one of the choices listed.

Impact positions are often a result of speed, tempo and rhythm. Or perhaps sequence is a better word. If the hips rotate too fast, it can be difficult to get the hands down fast enough to get them in front of the ball at impact.

All of this stuff is interrelated, being factors deciding the final result. You can't really chose one or the other.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Tomboys

Neither clubhead speed nor tempo and flow are going to matter much if you don't consistently make contact in the center of the clubface (or at least as close to it as possible) where the divot is in front of the ball.  At the end of the day, what good is it to be able to swing say a 5i 100 mph with a beautiful fluid motion if you hit the ground 3" inches behind the ball?  With that, I say technique is "best" even though it's not one of the choices listed.

Pretty much. Repeatable solid contact is all that really matters.

[senorchipotle]

OP, could you please define what you mean by "tempo" and "flow?"

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

Originally Posted by Zeph

All of this stuff is interrelated, being factors deciding the final result. You can't really chose one or the other.

My thoughts exactly.  Some people (maybe), can swing in slow-motion and still have all the right things happen as far as the sequencing of movements and the extent of each movement.  But I can't.  I have a swing speed, which is a result of the technique (sequencing, rhythm, and coordination of movements) in my swing.  If I swing wrong, it slows down.  If I consciously whip the wrists or try some other silly things, I can speed it up, but the swing breaks down and neither the contact nor the ball flight will be good.  If I get my swing right (not as consistent as I'd like, but getting better), then the power comes from my body rotation, and both speed and rhythm (and good shots!) are the result.

-Andrew

[Tomboys]

Originally Posted by Zeph

Impact positions are often a result of speed, tempo and rhythm. Or perhaps sequence is a better word.

All of this stuff is interrelated, being factors deciding the final result. You can't really chose one or the other.

At the risk of splitting hairs, I respectfully disagree.  Where does a flip fit into this equation?  IME, a flip can occur due to overswinging (speed) and/or a breakdown in tempo/rhythm (sequence).  However, it can also occur because a player has a misunderstanding of a "release".  It's this latter group that needs the proper education so that they can ingrain the proper techique in order to eliminate their flip.  It is (was) with this in mind that I suggested technique was the biggest contributor to hitting your iron shots better (or any shot for that matter).